Joneses help Smoltz to fourth straight win

May 10, 2007 - 3:32 AM
ATLANTA (Ticker) -- In a vintage matchup between two future
Hall of Famers, John Smoltz prevailed.

Smoltz outdueled former teammate Greg Maddux and Chipper and
Andruw Jones delivered clutch hits in the seventh inning to lead
the Atlanta Braves to a 3-2 victory over the San Diego Padres
on Wednesday.

Members of Atlanta's staff from 1999-2003, Smoltz and Maddux
combined to post 300 wins, collect four Cy Young Awards and help
the Braves to four National League pennants. Along with Tom
Glavine, they formed a formidable threesome on a team that won
10 East Division titles and the 1995 World Series.

Good friends that likely will be donning caps in Cooperstown,
Smoltz and Maddux had faced each other three previous times,
with Smoltz prevailing twice. Facing each other for the first
time since July 10, 1992, when Atlanta catcher Brian McCann was
eight-years old, it was Smoltz who once again emerged
victorious.

"It was two great performances by two Hall of Famers," Braves
manager Bobby Cox said. "Maddux was the Greg Maddux I've always
seen, and Smoltz was Smoltz. I loved it. And it ended so
tight that either one could have won. I'm glad how it ended,
though."

The 39-year old Smoltz (5-1) surrendered two runs and seven
hits, striking out seven without a walk in seven innings en
route to his 198th career victory. The seven-time All-Star
threw first-pitch strikes to 21-of-27 batters, went to a
three-ball count on just two hitters and hurled 68 of his 97
pitches for strikes in improving to 16-8 lifetime against San
Diego.

"It was a classic game," Smoltz said. "I think each pitcher
selfishly would have liked to beat the other 1-0 and pitched a
complete game."

"It's different when you're facing a good friend," Maddux said.
"He's got the best slider in the game. It's tough to pick up."

The righthander made just two mistakes, both of which went out
of the park.

Geoff Blum, who was batting just .103 (6-for-39) entering the
game, smashed Smoltz's 2-2 offering into the bleachers in
right-center field to stake the Padres to a 1-0 lead in the
second. One inning later, Adrian Gonzalez smashed his 10th
homer of the season to left field.

But Atlanta, which came in leading the majors with 78 two-out
RBI, strung together four consecutive two-out hits in the
seventh to give Smoltz the win.

With the Braves trailing, 2-1, Kelly Johnson began the two-out
rally against Padres reliever Cla Meredith (1-1) with a single
and moved to second on a base hit by Willie Harris. Chipper
Jones plated Johnson with a ground-rule double to right-center
field, tying the game and setting the stage for Andruw Jones.

Andruw Jones, who was mired in an 0-for-21 slump before
collecting two hits - including the game-winner - on Tuesday,
laced the first pitch from Meredith the opposite way to right
field, scoring Harris for a 3-2 lead.

"I'm not a right-field hitter," said Andruw Jones, widely known
as a pull hitter. "He threw it away, and I was lucky to hit it
that way."

The rally thwarted what would have been the 336th career win for
the 41-year-old Maddux, who allowed one run, four hits and two
walks. He struck out four in 5 1/3 innings.

"I kind of tried too hard too early and burnt out too soon,"
Maddux said. "It's tough. I put a lot of pressure on the
bullpen to throw four innings in a one-run game."

Maddux came to the plate to a standing ovation from Braves fans
in the second, but those cheers quickly turned to boos when the
four-time Cy Young Award winner singled on the first pitch from
Smoltz.

"It was kind of cool," Maddux said. "I saw the ball better."

It was the first hit of the year for Maddux and his first in six
career at-bats against Atlanta's ace.

"I was trying to blind him on the mound with my hair," the
balding Smoltz joked. "I knew he was going to swing. He always
ribs me about the fastball because I never gave him that. ... I
knew before it went to the plate that it was a bad pitch."

Atlanta's only scoring opportunity against its former star
righthander came in the fifth.

Chris Woodward singled to open the frame and advanced to third
on a sacrifice and a wild pitch. After Johnson struck out,
Harris delivered an RBI single to right to halve the Braves'
deficit.

But Maddux, who passed Fergie Jenkins for 11th place on the
all-time strikeout list one inning earlier when he fanned McCann
for his 3,193th, added to his total by striking out Chipper
Jones to end the threat.

Mike Gonzalez retired the side in order in the eighth and Rafael
Soriano struck out two in a perfect ninth for his fourth save.

Edgar Renteria missed his second game in three days with
flu-like symptoms for Atlanta, which has won five of seven.